Lone Child

Chapter 36: A Halloween Ball?

No one in Slytherin seemed surprised that James won. That night in the Common room, some of the older Slytherins snuck down to the kitchens and got a large supply of Butterbeer and other snack foods. In one of the remote parts of the room, some of the older Slytherins, Gin, Mel, Vladimir, Kat, Roman, Triss and James were playing a very heated game of strip poker.

So far Triss was winning, with Kat and Vladimir close behind. James, not the best at poker, was loosing. "Okay, that's it, I fold out of the game," said James, dropping his cards on the table.

"Why? Just one more round, your luck is bound to make a visit," Triss said, giving him puppy dog eyes.

"One more round? One more round and I'll be streaking," James pointed out, motioning to his last piece of clothing, his boxers.

"Please Jamesy-poo?" Triss asked, still giving him puppy dog eyes.

James seemed to consider it for a second before giving his answer. "Not only no, but hell no," James answered. Rolling her eyes Triss took another sip of her butterbeer and continued playing. A while later, the game ended with Triss as the winner. "Did you enjoy yourself?" James asked from an armchair near the fire.

"Very much so Mr. Cage," Triss answered, her voice slightly slurred from the countless bottles of butterbeer she had consumed. "Anyway, I'm going to bed. It's Hogsmead weekend and I want to get an early start," said Triss, yawning.

"Good night love," said James kissing her on the forehead and steering her towards the direction of the girl's stairs.

"Night Jamsey-poo," Triss giggled, walking up the stairs of the girl's dormitory. James sighed and let Triss go up the stairs, wondering where she had come up with that name.

&&&&&&&&

'Bounce! Bounce! Bounce! Crash!'

"What the fuck?" James yelled, jumping up from where he had fallen on the floor. Triss was sitting cross-legged on his bed grinning madly. "What do you want?" James asked, sitting back on the bed.

"We are going to Hogsmead. An announcement was just made about a Halloween ball. Everyone has to dress up," Triss explained.

"You're kidding?" James asked.

"No, it was Karkaroff's idea. What do you think your going to go as?" Triss asked.

"I don't know, Slytherin maybe," James answered. "What about you?"

"I don't know, I was hoping we could dress to match," said Triss, her eyes hopeful.

James thought about it for a second. "I'll go as whatever you want me to, so long as there are no tights involved," James said finally.

"Great! I was thinking we could go as Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel, from Lord of the Rings. It wouldn't be that hard to pull off, all we need are the robes," said Triss.

"As I said, so long as you don't stick me in tights I'll go along with anything you cook up. Do you want to go look around for robes while we're in Hogsmead?" James asked.

"Yes. If we don' find anything there, I'll mail Marie Malkin. I still say she is the best designer around," Triss said.

"Well, now that that has been settled, you will tell me where you got all of the sugar," James commanded. Triss put up a rather convincing angel act, but James saw through it. "You better tell me Trisstessa, or I will cut your supply of chocolate," James threatened.

Triss looked at him like he had just told her he was cutting their bond and moving to Egypt. "Ginny and Mel have a stock of sweets in their rooms. They said I'm much more pleasant when I've had a lot of sugar, and I don't look so depressed," Triss spilled.

James rolled his eyes. He would have to explain to Gin and Mel about Triss's trouble with sugar, and the way she reacted to it. "Well go take a shower and get ready to go to Hogsmead. I'm going to do the same," said James.

"Would you like me to join you?" Triss whispered in his ear.

"As tempting as the offer is love, I can't. We would never get to Hogsmead," James responded, standing. Triss pouted but stood and walked back to her dorm to get dressed.

&&&&&&&&&

"What do you think about this?" Triss asked, holding up an earthly brown and green gown. It must have been the 50th dress she'd looked at today.

"First things first, it's the wrong color," James said, finally getting frustrated. "I think we need to shoot for white, silver or some kind of light blue. How about this one?" James asked, picking a dress off of the rack. The dress was as soft as cotton, textured like satin, but as heavy as velvet. Even at Triss's height of 5'9, the dress would still touch the floor. The material was pure white at first sight, but in the right light it turned light shades of blue and purple. The neck was a little lower than James would have liked for being in the presents of others, but the long belled sleeves made up for it. At the waist of the dress was a Celtic knot silver chain that, if hung right, would give the dress an even more mysterious and elaborate look.

Triss stared at the dress in wonder. "It's perfect!" Triss shouted, grinning. James rolled his eyes at his still hyper girlfriend's antics.

"Go try it on. I'm going to see if I can find a matching tunic and pair of leggings," said James, searching through a rack of men's formal clothing. 15 minutes later Triss returned, confirming that the dress fit and wouldn't need to be altered. James had also found an outfit that would go fairly well with Triss's.

The leggings were plain white, while the tunic matched Triss's dress perfectly, right down to the strange fabric. To go under the tunic James had a plain tight, white, nylon undershirt. "I think we're set as far as our clothes go. Now we just need shoes, and possibly jewelry," said Triss, her sugar high almost gone.

With that said Triss bought a pair of lace-up-the-ankle white stilettos, not that anyone would be able to see them. James, to match the rest of his outfit, bought a pair of plain white boots. The lady at the register looked stunned at the sight of the dress, but rung it all up none the less. Thanks to a little of James's Will magic, the outfits were both safely tucked away in James's pocket.

With nothing else to do James and Triss walked back up to the deserted form of Hogwarts. As the two walked James heard a distinct whimpering and voices. Triss, however, had heard it before he had and was well on her way to finding out what it was.

Several twisted corridor's later Triss and James came upon a several Slytherin first and second years standing in a circle. Most of them had their wands out and were shouting lewd comments at whatever they were circled around.

"What the fuck is going on here?" Triss demanded. James actually had to stop himself from taking a few steps back. He knew better than to get in Triss's way when she was angry. He had said on more than one occasion that he would rather face down a basilisk unarmed and with out any powers than face Triss when she was angry.

The group of younger Slytherins jumped, but calmed down when they saw Triss. It was quite obvious that they though house loyalty was going to get them out of whatever they had done. "We were just finishing the job the Death Eaters started," one of the second years said.

"Stand aside," James commanded. As expected, his eyes fell on the crumpled, and crying form of Elizabeth Dursley. "Tessa, go get someone, I don't care if it's Dumbledore himself. You guys better sit down and make yourselves comfortable," said James, glaring down at the young Slytherins.

The boys gulped and Triss ran off to get a teacher while James tried to patch up the little girl. Just James' touch seemed to be enough to calm her so that she was no longer curled up. "Elizabeth?" James asked, his voice soft and comforting.

The little girl looked up at James through her puffy blue eyes and recognition shown in them. "Who are you?" the girl asked.

"James Cage. I'm a student here, I'm in my fourth year. My friend Triss went to go get one of the teachers to punish the boys that hurt you," James explained. Elizabeth's blue eyes lit up with fear, remembering why James was standing over her in the first place. "No worries, if any of them so much as look at you wrong, they have to deal with me," James said, glaring at the young Slytherin boys.

Elizabeth seemed to calm at that, though. "I'm Lizzy. I live in the castle with my Aunt Lily, Uncle Jim, and cousins Holly and Sara," said Elizabeth with innocence only kids could have.

"Really? How do you like life in the castle?" James asked.

"It's fun. Aunt Lily and Uncle Jim let me have free run of the castle so long as I don't bother anyone," Elizabeth said with a grin.

Before James could comment on how dangerous it was for Elizabeth to run around the castle unattended Potter made an appearance. "What is going on here?" he demanded, looking down at Lizzy's tear streaked face and the Slytherins sitting against the wall.

"Several students I'm ashamed to call my house mates attacked your niece. I sent Tessa off to get a teacher," James explained. Potter looked ready to start taking points when Snape came down the hallway, Triss a few steps behind him.

"Detention, all of you. Meet Filch in the dungeons tonight at 8, and every night this week," Snape growled, looking at the group of boys. Potter gaped as the boys took off towards the Slytherin dorms, Snape close behind.

That's one way to handle things, Triss commented. James nodded.

"James!" a voice called. James looked up from his dinner to see Lizzy Dursley walking towards him.

"Hey Lizzy. What's up?" James asked. Over the last couple of weeks the little girl had been hanging out with he and Triss, as there wasn't anyone else to really hang out with around her age. After the hallway incident none of the first years, which were only a year older than she was, would hang out with her anymore.

"Do you think you could help me with my costume for the party tonight? Aunt Lily said she was too busy," Lizzy said solemnly.

"I don't think I could help you, but I'm sure Triss, Kat or Mel would be willing," James answered.

"Of course," said Kat, who was dinning with the Slytherins for the first time in a while.

"I think this is one of the many events I shall leave to Kat," said Triss. Lizzy looked a bit disappointed that Triss wouldn't be helping her dress, but got over it fairly quickly.

"Well ladies, I think it's about time we head off to start getting ready. Kat, are you going to change in the Slytherin dorms with Triss, Mel and Gin?" James asked.

"Yeah. Are you going to the Gryffindor dorms with Rome and Vlad?" Kat asked.

"Sad as I am to admit it, yes. Anyway, I'll meet you outside of the Great Hall," James said, giving Triss a lingering kiss on the lips.

"Alright, is everyone ready to roll?" Rome asked. He was dressed up as Peter Pan, as to match Kat, who was going as Wendy.

"I am veady," Vlad said, he was dressed up as Prince Charming, while Mel was going as Cinderella.

"What about you James?" Rome asked.

"Almost!" James yelled from the bathroom. A few minutes later he immerged, making both boy's jaws drop. He hadn't changed at all as far as height and build, he was still 6'3" with lots of muscle, but his normally tanned skin was a glowing lily white, making his fiery blue eyes stand out. His once short brown hair was now blond, hanging just below his shoulders. Two braids hung in the front of his hair, showing he was a bonded warrior.

"Damn. Just, damn!" said Rome, examining James' outfit.

"I look forward to see what Triss iz drezzed like," Vlad commented. James shot him a look, but otherwise didn't say anything.

"Well, the dance starts in an 30 minutes, so shall we go pick up our dates?" Rome asked. The other two boys nodded, both eager to see how their dates would look.

35 minutes later, 15 of which were spent sitting in the chamber outside of the hall, the group of girls arrived. Lizzy, lead by Kat, was dressed in a soft pink gown with Fae wings sticking out of the back. Her blond hair was curled and pulled into a ponytail, making her look like she could pass for at least a 2nd year. Over her eyes she wore a pink eye mask, making her light blue eyes stand out.

Kat, who stood a few feet behind Lizzy, wore a long sleeve periwinkle gown that accented the many curves of her body. Her normally frizzy brown hair was now straight and silky. Around her neck she wore a sapphire pendant held by a Celtic knot chain that Rome had gotten her for her birthday. Around her eyes she wore a soft blue eye shadow that made her honey brown eyes stand out.

To Kat's right was Mel. Like Kat, she wore a gown, but her gown was a much darker blue. Unlike Kat's it didn't show off her body, but it did accent her strong figure. Also unlike Kat's gown, the sleeve only came to just off of her shoulder. From her elbow down she wore a pair of white gloves. Most likely by Triss's hand Mel's hair was wrapped around a diamond and platinum tiara. In the very back of the group stood Triss. James was sure that if his jaw wasn't firmly attached it would have fallen off, as it was his jaw was dangerously close to the ground.

As promised, Triss wore the gown she had bought several weeks before. It fit her almost as a second skin. Triss's normally slightly tanned skin was now milky white, almost matching the dress, with a moon lit glow surrounding her. Her normally auburn locks were now a very pale, almost silver, blond, and her blue eyes were deeper than ever. She looked every bit the Elven Lady she was dressed as.

James just stood, gaping at the image before him. He was so shocked by ''his' Triss's beauty that he didn't even glare at Rome and Vlad, who both were shooting Triss's low neck line a glance, or two. "You look beautiful Tessa," James finally managed to say, his eye still wondering over his bonded's outfit.

"I think she looks like one of the Elves that helped me when my parents died. You look a lot like the boy who took that curse for me James," Lizzy said, studying the pair.

"Well, I think it's time to get to the dance," Kat said, taking Rome's hand. James nodded, finally having gained control, and wrapped his arm possessively around Triss's waist. Mel and Vlad also joined hands, while Lizzy was on James's other side, his free hand resting protectively on her shoulder.

Upon entering the hall the group was meant by a frazzled looking Lily Evans-Potter. Running around her legs were two pumpkins James could only guess were Holly and Sara. "I need your name, and the name of your character," said Evans, not even looking up.

"Kat Snape, Wendy from Peter Pan."

"Rome Lupin, Peter Pan."

"Mel Crew, Cinderella."

"Vlad Krum, Prince Charming."

"Lizzy Dursley, Thumbilina." Evans looked up at Lizzy's name, and down right stared when she saw her costume.

"Who helped you dress up Lizzy?" Evans asked, it was quite obvious she hadn't expected to see Lizzy there, in costume anyway.

"Kat and Mel helped. They did my make-up and my hair," Lizzy answered. Evans nodded, not pushing the subject.

"James Cage, Lord Celeborn."

"Triss Summers, Lady Galadriel." Upon seeing their costumes, Evans nearly fainted. The two of them bore a startling resemblance to the two Elves from the World Cup.

Maybe this wasn't the best of ideas, said Triss as they walked more fully into the hall. The two of them were getting several looks of recognition, especially from the teachers, and Gryffindors.

Well, it's too late to change anything now. I really don't think we'll be bothered though, unless it's by that Grandfather of yours, James said, throwing a look up at Dumbledore, who was rubbing his eyes at the sight of them.

Much to James's surprise, it was Fudge that came after them. What do you think you are doing? Showing off your forms like that! Do you have any idea how much trouble I'm having keeping the press off of you both? Now you go and do this? Why do I even try? he ranted, ignoring the looks he was getting from others around him.

Hold on, you think this is how we really look? Nowhere near! This is just a guise we cooked up to go to the Ball with, Triss said, snickering.

Fudge turned about ten shades of red, but didn't burst. You both better feel very lucky that I am indebted to you because of the events of the World Cup, Fudge grumbled before walking away.

'Well someone pulled the stick out of his ass,' Jewels voice said in James's mind.

'Hey, where are you?' James asked, looking around.

'Coming up on your right.' James looked to his right and saw Jewel walking towards him, in human form. Her dress was very loosely cut, but still made a point to show off the would-be-snake's human body. The dress its self was dark purple with gold clips at the top of each shoulder, and one on the belt tat was slung on her waist. Her blond hair was swept back into a high ponytail, keeping it out of her face and making her green eyes stand out.

"Jewel, what the hell are you doing here?" James asked, turning to the woman.

"I thought I should join in the festivities," Jewel said, the parseltongue accent present in her voice.

Triss blinked once or twice at the figure. "Jewel? Looking good, I see you finally figure the transformation out," Triss said, examining Jewel's human body.

Jewel grinned, showing off her pearly white teeth. "That I did. I think I pulled it off nicely," Jewel said. Triss nodded in agreement. James just shook his head, somehow he wasn't surprised Triss knew about Jewel's new form.

"Are you going to be dinning with us?" James asked.

"If I'm invited," said Jewel.

"Of course," Triss answered.

Triss and Jewel walked away chatting and James started to head off to visit with Rome and Vlad when he felt a hand pull at his sleeve. Still standing at his side was Lizzy. "Do you think I could sit with you guys during dinner? I don't want to go sit at the teachers table, it makes people stare," Lizzy said.

"Of course you can, if it's okay with your Aunt Lily," James said. Lizzy grinned and ran off to go make sure her new seating arrangement was okay with her aunt.

"You know, that kid."

"Sure hangs out with."

"You and Triss."

"A lot," said two familiar voices.

James turned to greet the twins, and nearly fell over. The twins didn't look at all like the twins. Instead there were two Egyptian women, decked out in full. Both were wearing long slit-up-the-side gold skirts and sequined strapless shirts, showing off their newly added, and fake, breasts. Also, their trademark Weasley red hair, and freckled skin had been replaced with smooth, darkly tanned skin, and long, straight, black hair. Covering their faces was a sheet of beads that covered everything from the eyes down.

"You two didn't go cross on me, did you?" James asked, staring.

"Shhh! No one can know it's us. We want to see how many guys we can get to dance with us," one of them, James could tell which, said.

"Well, you two need to change your voices then," James commented.

"That's why we came to you. Do you think you could charm them for us?" the other twin asked.

James rolled his eyes, and waved his hand slightly. "Well, have fun ladies," James said, trying not to laugh as he left the twins to their mischief.

"Who were they James?" Triss asked when he caught up with the ever-growing group of girls.

Fred and George, they want to see how many guys they could trick. They needed me to charm their voices, James responded. Triss nearly choked on her glass of pumpkin juice. Triss was about to comment when Lizzy appeared.

"James, my Aunt said I could eat with you guys," Lizzy said, buzzing with excitement.

"Great. You can sit there," said James pointing to the only empty seat, between Jewel and Rome. Lizzy grinned and nodded. A few minutes later Madam Maxime called for attention. The hall grew silent and all eyes turned to Dumbledore.

"Greeting students!" he yelled. He proceeded to make a rather annoying speech, and then explained how you were to order your food and drinks. When he finally sat down the groups of students dug in. Dinner was a very quick affair, and within the hour students were dancing in the now cleared hall.

"May I have this dance?" James asked, turning to Triss. Triss nodded and accepted his offered hand. Over the next few hours, James proceeded to dance with almost every girl that asked him, however he still dance with Triss more than anyone else. At the very end James figured he'd danced with almost every girl currently in the school, including Evans, the only current female professor.

At a quarter to mid-night Madam Maxime called for attention. "Over the past several hours we, the professors and heads of our schools have been casting votes for the best students as far as costume and dancing have gone. The results are thus. For the most creative costumes, Fred and George Veasley!" Madam Maxime called out. James laughed at the green tinge in several of the male student's faces and Fred and George walked up to the Stage. Karkaroff gave them a small trophy with a mask on it.

"For best male dancer, James Cage!" she yelled. James quickly collected a small trophy from Karkaroff with a male wizard in Dress robes on it. "For best female dancer, Susan Bones," like those before her, the red head quickly collected her prize. "For best looking costume, Trisstessa Summers!" Triss, like James and Susan, was quick about getting her trophy.

"And finally, for best looking couple, James Cage and Trisstessa Summers!" Maxime called.

"That is the second time that woman has said my full name," Triss growled under her breath. James snickered, earning a discreet pinch from Triss. All too soon the couple was walking back to the Common room, by themselves, as they had had to take Lizzy back to her room.

"Did you have fun?" James asked.

"Yes, but I can think of better things to do with the night," Triss whispered in his ear, grinning wickedly.

(A/N: Sorry for the delay, but this is now the longest chapter I have currently posted. Well, over the past month in a half I have been dragged all over the state, kicking and screaming. The latest, and hopefully last venture for the summer was to the Keys for a 10-day dive trip. It was fun, but I was ready to strangle my family by the end. I hope you guys like the chapter, the next will be up as soon as possible. Oh, and before I forget, Happy Birthday Harry Potter! Oh, to all of you who voted, thank you. In the end, adding more tasks won. Also, to anyone that doesn't have a response below that wasn't voting or just saying they liked my story, then my e-mail lost it. I've been having trouble with hackers, and a lot of my mail stuff is messed up. I checked the review thing on the net, but you know how that can be. I've gotten reviews before that didn't even list on the net. Well, I have to get going on the next chapter, bye!)

Review responses:

Beea20: Thanks. Lily will find out soon, I promise. It will go something along the lines of James not being able to hold his form anymore. As far as the Triss cheating on James thing, it wouldn't work. James and Triss are soul bonds and basically inseparable. Plus, the professors don't like James much anyway…

Athenakitty: For reasons unknown to me, my characters run a lot, but there is only one James Cage. If you want to count James Potter, go ahead, but everyone calls him Jim if not just Potter or Professor. Between Aberforth and Albus, Albus is older. I think if Albus touched anything magical of James's, there would be some kind of repercussion. Thanks for telling me about Sauron the Great…or the Deceiver.

Shadowface: I'm working on it, I swear!

ERMonkey, Burner of Cookies: Cool tag name… Yeah, these storms are scary. A few days ago, while I was driving back from the beach, lightening struck the pole in front of me. That was a very interesting sight. No worries about being crazy…insanity lives at my house. I'll try to update before I go on vacation, but if not, I'll do it when I get back.

Sauron the Deciever: Thank you! I am unworthy of your forgiveness, but I accept anyway. Just between you and me, your not supposed to understand what's happening yet. It will be explained in time.

Wytil: You are starting to sound like my dad. Normally, when I log off I unplug my computer from the phone line, unless I'm only going to go do something like take my dog for a walk. Also, my phone line is plugged into a surge protector that goes into another surge protector and then into my master board that goes into my computer modem. My dad is thinking about DSL, but in Florida, it's not very reliable because the cables get flooded out.

SiLvErFaTeD: Thanks. Of course it's all about the warm and fuzzy!

Michaelrccurtis: Your welcome. I'm trying to keep this whole thing as original as possible. You can thank my Sis, Anna, for giving me ideas about changing the tasks around.

Lunarian: They haven't dealt with the whole mistrust issue yet. Please, just keep some faith in the author, I promise you won't be disappointed. I leave things like that open for a reason.

XCleopatrax: Thanks. I'm trying to pick up on my updates again, but I'm being pulled in about 50 different directions at current second. You would think, that with school being out, I would have more time on my hands…

Musicstarlover: Thanks. Yes, I live in Florida, the land of rain and thunderstorms. I swear, if your not running from lightning, then your cold. Sunshine State my ass. Anyway, yes, James and Lily will find out about 'Harry'. If I keep time jumping like this, it'll be within the next 4 or 5 chapters, maybe less.IndoJabijin: Thanks. I, personally, don't think I would ever be a good author. I try, but as you can probably tell, I throw too many ideas into one story. You watch, next I'll be adding in Lord of the Ring characters to fight against Voldemort. --'Snape-is-my-slave: Thanks. Only a few people know about Snape and James having ever been close. At current second, both James and Snape are mad at each other because Snape is being an ass, don't worry though, I make him good later. No, James doesn't know Lily's first born lived. Everyone that hasn't been told otherwise thinks Lily's child died at birth.

Lady Liza Lupin: I thought I went back and fixed all of that. If it's still that bad I'll go over it again, but it's really hard to go through your own story and fix mistakes, especially for a person like me. I don't actually read the words when I read. I look at the first letter, the last letter, and maybe a letter or two in between and I know what the word is. I've had that problem for years, but it can't be helped. As I said, if it's still that bad I'll have a friend help me go over it again.

Anna (Sissy): Anna, dear, next time you mess with any of my out going review responses, it is very likely that I will shove my laptop so far up your ass, I could open your mouth and see the screen. Feel warned…

Snape-Is-My-Slave: Thanks. Only the people James really trusts know about his and Snape's relationship. No, James Potter doesn't know anything about Lily's firstborn being alive.

Rose estraz: Thanks. James's head didn't really inflate, he's just an ass.

Leeanne-Marie-Malfoy: Well, I don't think I'll be making Evens and Potter split up. As far as everything else goes, you shall see.

Shadow: James has a lot of names for what he is, and he is the heir of all four founders and Merlin. Most of it should be explained in the first chapter.

Lady Night4: Me, put my story on hiatus? Never! I hate it when authors do that too. No worries, I'm not stopping or anything, I've just been a bit busy. I'm hoping that things will calm down with the beginning of the school year. Things always seem calmer then. As far as Lily finding out and all, you will see, and yes, you do find out what is wrong with James's powers.